Valve structure



Nov. 11, 1941. L. G. DANIELS VALVE STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 29,l938 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE STRUCTURELee G. Daniels, Rockford, Ill.

9 Claims.

This invention relates to valves and has special reference to a multipleport lift-turn type of valve of the general class described in my Patent2,093,692, and in my copending application Serial No. 138,948, filedApril 26, 1937.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 187,668, filedJanuary 29, 1938, entitled Valve structure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve which iseasier to lift and turn than prior known valves of the same type andsize.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a valve of theclass described characterized by the absence of resilient means betweenthe stem plate and the handle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a valvewherein improved-sealing means is provided between the stationary andmovable members of the valve.

I have also aimed to provide a valve having a novel seating arrangementbetween the movable member of the valve and the gaskets.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a gasket havingnovel shape characteristics for supporting the same in cooperativerelationship with the movable member of the valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gasket havingshape characteristics adapted to materially prolong the useful lifethereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top View of avalve embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the valve showing a portion of the valvein section;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the ported body member showing the portarrangements;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section through a modified form of port gasketshowing portions of the cooperating body and rotor members.

Directing attention first to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral 8 designatesgenerally the stationary body or base member of the valve having aplurality of ports, in this instance arranged to control the flow ofliquid in a zeolite water softener, a port 9 being connected through athreaded opening I to a source of water supply, a port l2 beingconnected to the incoming side of the softener, through a threadedopening l3, a port l4 being connected to the outlet from the watersoftener through a threaded opening l5, and ports I6 and I1, connectedrespectively to the service line and to drain through threaded openingssuch as those shown at I3 and I5. A port |8 is connected through achannel ill to a bore 2|. The bore 2| is connected to a brine tank orother source of supply regeneration solution through an opening 22 inthe body member 8. Positioned in the bore 2| is a Venturi tube 23 and ajet 24 forming an injector for the purpose of withdrawing regenerationsolution from the brine tank and conducting the same to the inlet of thesoftener by way of the port |2 and opening l3. The tube 23 is secured inposition by means of a screw 25 and the opposite end of the bore 2| isclosed by a plug 26. A port 21 is connected to the port l6 and serves toby-pass water to the service line during the back wash step of theregeneration cycle of the valve.

Positioned in each of the ports l2, l4, l6, 11, I8 and 21 are tubularferrules designated generally by the numeral 28 arranged to seat to apredetermined depth within the ports. Positioned upon the outer ends ofthe ferrules 28 are sealing or gasket members 29 extending around andover the ferrules, formed of resilient rubber or similar material, eachof the gaskets having a flat upper surface 3| and having an annulargroove 32 in their lower surfaces for the reception of the outer end ofthe ferrules 28 (Fig. 4). The gaskets have arcuate surfaces at 29a. and292) where the flat upper surface 3| joins the side walls 3|a and 3|b soas to provide a continuous and well supported surface throughout thecontacting and adjacent portion of the gasket. The gaskets are retainedon the ferrules in any of a number of well known ways, as, for example,by stretching the rubber of the gasket or by cementing the gasketthereon. Alternately the gasket and ferrules may be formed as shown inFig. 5, wherein ferrules 33 are provided substantially similar to theferrules 28, the outer ends thereof being beveled as shown at 34.Positioned on the ferrules are gaskets 35 of resilient rubber or similarmaterial, fastened as heretofore described. The upper or outer ends ofthe gaskets are curved convexly inwardly radially as shown at 38 so asto seat in curved concave radial recesses 37 in the stem plate or rotormember, as will presently be described, the recesses 31 surrounding eachof the ports in the stem plate. gasket is carried down along the outerside of the ferrules 33 as shown at 38 to a point in close proximity tothe face of the body member 8 to impart better support under the seatingpressure,

In this instance the to better retain the gasket on the ferrule and toserve as a further check to the passage of liquid on the interfacebetween the gasket and the ferrule. This construction provides asomewhat better seal between the two ported members of the valve becauseof the manner in which the gasket distorts along the recesses underseating pressure to give a better seal, but on the other hand requiresthat the stem plate be seated more accurately than does the form of Fig.4. It is also somewhat more expensive to manufacture than the former.Under some circumstances the portion ofthe gasket 35 which lies withinthe ferrules may be eliminated and the outer side 38 thereof carrieddown against the face of the body member to produce a satisfactory sealand likewise the portion thereof between the edge 34 and the stem platemay also be eliminated, the seal being produced by the inward pressureof the curved radial recesses 31.

Seated on the body member 8 is a housing or cover 39 which confines theflow of water to the ports and encloses a stem plate designatedgenerally by the numeral 4| (Fig. 2). The stem plate 4| has a pluralityof ports, certain of which are designated by the numerals 42 and 43, theposition of which ports control the direction of flow through the valve,the stem plate being indexed for the purpose of establishing differentcommunication between the ports of the plate and the ports of the bodyas described in my above-mentioned patent application. The stem plate 4|has a stem 44 projecting therefrom and extending out of the housing orcover 39 through a suitable packing arrangement designated gen erally bythe numeral 45.

Positioned on the end of the housing 39 are spaced brackets 46 and 41 tothe outer ends of which are attached an index plate 48 by means ofscrews or otherwise as shown at 49.. brackets 46 and 41 are in thisinstance integral with the housing 49 as will be apparent from Fig. 2.The index plate 46 has, in this instance, three outwardly extendingprojections 49, and 52 on its periphery positioned at 90 angles andadapted to function in latching mechanism, as will presently bedescribed. On the same radius with the projections are pins 53, 54 and55 projecting upward from the surface of the plate at substantiallyequal distances from the center of the plate defined by the stem 44which extends through the plate. Upstanding ribs 56 and 51 are likewiseformed on the plate intermediate the pins 53, 54 and 55, as best shownin Figure l, the ribs being arcuate and resting on the same radius. Ifdesired, the numerals 1, 2 and 3 may be inscribed or formed on the plateopposite the pins for the purpose of designating the various valvepositions.

Attached to the stem 44 on the outer side of the index plate is an arm58 extending radially outward with respect to the plate and terminatingslightly short of the periphery thereof, the arm having a larger openingas shown at 59 through which the numerals 1, 2 and 3 may be visible anda smaller opening 6| equi-distantfrom the center with the pins 53, 54and 55 whereby the pins may be received in the opening 6| when the stemand rotor occupy the seated positions, one of which is shown in Fig. 2.Similar results may be obtained by placing the pins 53, 54 and 55 on thebody within the housing and an ear on the stem plate having an openingor hole adapted to come into registration therewith in the same manneras the open- The ing 6|. Lugs 62 are positioned on the lower surface ofthe arm 58 on the same radius as the ribs 56 and 51 adapted to cooperatewith the ribs in preventing the stem from being moved to the seatedposition of the rotor except at the designated stations.

A lever 63 having a forked end 64 is pivotally attached to the stem 44by means of a bearing pin 65 which extends laterally outward from thestem and is journaled in the forked end 64. The outer end of the lever63 has a ball 66 or 8 other means for manually grasping the lever.

Fulcrum projections 61 and 68 are positioned on the upper and lowersides of the lever 63 adjacent the forked inner end thereof and betweenthe housing 39 and the index plate 48, as best shown in Fig. 2, theprojections being so shaped and positioned that the projection 61 bearsagainst a flat surface 69 on the lower side of the index plate 48 andagainst the flanged upper end 1| of the outer bushing 12 of the packingarrangement 45, this flanged end being .sufiiciently broad to providebearing surface for the fulcrum projection at any position of thelatter. Secured to the lever 63 is a collar 13 and a bearing surface 14slidably carrying a sleeve 15 normally urged inward by means of a spring16, the sleeve being slidable on the lever in the latching operation ofthe device. The sleeve 15 has an arm 11 which projects upwardly andinwardly into close proximity to the periphery of the index plate 48 insuch manner as to move over the projections 49, 5| and 52 when the leveris indexed to a point therebeneath, as shownin Figs. 1 and .2. A screwand lock nut 18 is positioned in the arm 11 and is adjustable therein sothat the lower end 19 thereof bears against the projections 49, 5| and52 in the seated positions of the stem. A rod 8| projects outwardlyalong the lever 63, through an opening 82 in the collar 13, and is bentupwardly as shown at 83 to provide convenient means for actuation of thelatch with the fingers, the finger being passed over the upwardlyprojecting portion 83 to move the sleeve 15 against the action of thespring 16 to withdraw the arm 11 and screw 18 from contact with theprojections 49, 5| or 52.

The valve is operated as follows: Figs. 1 and 2 show the parts in theservice position of the valve. In the regeneration of a water treatmentapparatus such as a zeolite water softener the operator grasps thehandle 66 and with the finger moves the sleeve 15 to disengage the arm11, whereupon the lever may be rotated in a clockwise direction facingFig. 2 about the axis 65. During this movement the fulcrum projection 68causes the stem 44 to be moved longitudinally, thus lifting the stemplate 4| free of the gaskets to an unseated position. This liftingmovement of the stem causes the arm 58 to move upward until the arm isfree of the pin55, at which point the lever 63 may be indexed or rotatedabout the stem as an axis in a counterclockwise direction facing Figure1 through or until the numeral on the index plate appears through theopening 59. During this movement the rib 51 and the lugs 62 prevent thestem from being moved downward to a position in which the 63 until the'pin 53 is receivable in the opening 6|, at which point the lever isrotated in a counterclockwise direction facing Fig. 2, whereupon thefulcrum projection 6'! acts against the surface 69 to urge the stemlongitudinally downward until the stem .plate reaches the seatedposition in which it is pressed against the gaskets 29. When the screw18 is properly adjusted, the latch may be released at this point and thescrew will bear against the projection thus positively locking the stemplate in its seated position. With the particular valve underconsideration this will cause the direction of flow in the softener tobe reversed to back-wash the softener and water to flow to the serviceline from the port 2'1, upon the completion of which operation theoperator through movements similar to those just described, indexes thevalve to the No. 2 position in which communication is establishedbetween the ports to draw brine into the softener when a supplementarybrine valve is opened and to rinse out the brine from the softener uponthe closing of the supplementary Valve. When the rinsing operation iscomplete, the operator again actuates the valve moving it from the No. 2position to the No. 3 position shown in the drawing, thus returning thesoftener to service. The brackets 45 and 61 serve as stops to limit thetotal amount of circumferential movement of the lever 63 tosubstantially 180, though this may be varied as required in accordancewith the port arrangement of the valve.

It will be seen that in accordance with the invention I provide means ina valve of the liftturn type for retaining the stem plate memberpositively against its seat in each of its positions so that the platecannot be dislodged accidentally or through surges of pressure in theliquid. No springs or other resilient mechanism is provided and theplate is positively seated in response to movement of the handle and notresiliently seated by action of a spring as in numerous prior artconstructions.

I have also provided improved sealing means between the multiple portedmembers of the valve which require substantially less space than thoseheretofore employed and are cheaper to manufacture. The gaskets areextremely easy to replace and do not tend to break up under thecompressive force and the resultant distortion as by being distortedover sharp corners or edges. Furthermore, the metal surfaces betweenwhich sealing occurs (the upper ends of the ferrules and the face of thestern plate) are close together so that proper pressure can be built upwithout undue distortion of the rubber. In the form shown in Fig. 5, acertain amount of side support is placed on the gasket without therebeing sharp edges over which the gasket can be distorted and damaged.

I claim:

1. The combination in a lift-turn valve of two multiple port members,one of said members having ferrules in its cooperating ports, individualgaskets extending around and over said ferrules, and means for lifting,turning and reseating the other of said ported members.

2. The combination in a lift-turn valve of two multiple port members,ferrules disposed in the ports of one of said members projectingtherefrom toward the other member, and cylindrical resilient rubbergaskets disposed snugly around the projecting outer surface of saidferrules and projecting over the outwardly projecting end thereof toseal the junction between the ports of said members by compression ofsaid projecting gasket portions between said other member and saidferrules.

3. The combination in a multiple port lift-turn valve of a ported bodymember, a ported stem plate member adapted to be moved in seating andunseating movement with respect to the body member, ferrules disposed inthe ports of one of said members projecting toward the other member, andresilient gaskets in the form of cylinders seated over the projectingends of said ferrules for contact against said other member to seal saidmembers around said ports, said gaskets having an annular recess in oneend defined by concentric wall portions for reception of the end of saidferrules, said wall portions hugging the inner and outer sides of saidferrules.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the projecting ends ofsaid ferrules slope away from the inner surface of the ferrule at anacute angle.

5. The combination in a lift-turn valve of a ported body member, aported stem plate member adapted to be moved in seating and unseatingmovement with respect to the body member, and resilient gasket meanstherebetween comprising metal ferrules positioned in the ports of one ofsaid members and projecting therefrom, and rubber gaskets in the form ofcylinders having annular recesses in one end thereof for the closereception of the end of said ferrule, the opposite end of the gasketbeing substantially flat through a substantial portion of its width.

6. The combination in a lift-turn valve of two multiple port members,ferrules disposed in the ports of one of said members projecting towardthe other member, and individual resilient gaskets seated over theprojecting ends of said ferrules for contact against said other memberto seal said members around said ports, said gaskets having an annularrecess in one end defined by concentric wall portions for reception ofthe end of said ferrules, said wall portions hugging the inner and outersides of said ferrules, the opposite ends of said gaskets beingsubstantially flat through a major portion thereof and being rounded inthe area adjoining the side surfaces of the gasket.

7. The combination in a lift-turn valve of a ported body member, aported stem plate member adapted to be moved in seating and unseatingmovement with respect to the body member, and resilient gasket meanstherebetween comprising metal ferrules positioned in the ports of one ofsaid members and projecting therefrom, and individual rubber gaskets inthe form of cylinders having annular recesses in one end thereof for theclose reception of the end of said ferrule, the opposite end of saidgasket curving outwardly to provide a convex arcuate surface, theopposite member of said valve having concave arcuate seats surroundingeach port for the reception of the convex end of said gaskets to providea seal around the ports.

8. The combination in a lift-turn valve of two multiple port members,ferrules disposed in the ports of one of said members projecting towardthe other member, and individual resilient gaskets seated over theprojecting ends of said ferrules for contact against said other memberto seal said members around said ports, said gaskets having an innerwall extending within said end of the ferrules fitting snugly againstthe inner surface thereof, an outer wall of substantially greaterthickness than said inner wall extending along the outer surface of theprojecting portion of the ferrules to a point in spaced relation to saidone of said members, and a connecting portion joining said walls, saidportion having a convex arcuate outer surface, said other member havingconcave arcuate seats surrounding each port for the reception of theconvex portion of the gaskets to provide a seal 1 around the ports.

adapted to compress the resilient rubber gaskets of the other member,and means for lifting, turning and reseating one of the members.

LEE G. DANIELS.

